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Poster: Jobygoob Date: Mar 30, 2010 11:38am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Embarrassingly crap? Wow a little harsh, I think. That's not how I would describe it.

Just at first glance it seems pretty dark, and there seems to be a clear sense that this song comes from someone who has been around the block a few times for sure. I found some of the imagery to be powerful and evocative. I'd like to hear the music becuase I don't get the melodic sense from reading it.

It does remind me a bit of Black Muddy River for some reason.

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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 30, 2010 12:41pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

On reflection (I was about to say on sober reflection, but that horse departed the stable an hour or so ago) I stand by my initial reaction. It's crap. If a high school English student submitted this as a piece of work it would be marked fail. If you keep going round the block isn't it something of a sign that you might just have lost your way?

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Poster: SomeDarkHollow Date: Mar 30, 2010 1:01pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Thank you, my imbibed anglo friend.

I long ago took off my rose colored glasses the made me think everything Dead must be and was AWESOME!!!, no questions asked. Well, I'm asking questions now. Like, as covered above, what kind of sub-par, 8th grade poetry class sputum is that?

Sorry, it's not a judgement on the man or his overall work, just a single man's opinion of another man's train wreck.

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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 30, 2010 1:46pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Good point, SDH. I've never understood the tendency to put someone beyond criticism just because they achieved something wonderful in the past. The mature perspective takes each new work on its own merits - a great past does not inoculate you against a crap present. You're right to make clear that we're not out to attack Hunter root and branch - just pointing out a withering twig that needs pruning.


And by the way - good to be talking with you. Just like old times!

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Poster: high flow Date: Mar 31, 2010 12:23pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

So, Tell can FINALLY stop bragging about inventing the wheel? That would be awesome.

P.S. This was for Dire who was recently sniped by Mr Tell's arrow.

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Poster: William Tell Date: Mar 31, 2010 12:55pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Hey--you gotta let me in on the joke; you mean "criticism"?

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Poster: spacedface Date: Mar 31, 2010 11:25am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Did you guys ever hear the TV critiques of Little Richard’s “Tutti-Frutti”? Wasb't that Steve Allen? Did he also comment on Dylan's "Just"like a woman"?
This post was modified by spacedface on 2010-03-31 18:25:50

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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 31, 2010 11:29am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Awopbopaloobopalopbamboom is the greatest lyric ever.

Either that or:

Little old lady got mutilated late last night.



I can never decide.

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Poster: elbow1126 Date: Mar 31, 2010 11:56am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

both excellent choices although I must throw in David Byrne's opening to Crosseyed and Painless:

"Lost my shape, trying to act casual."

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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 31, 2010 12:07pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

"Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free."


Isn't being a music fan just such an endless source of delight? And isn't it just really good to be here right now?

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Poster: elbow1126 Date: Mar 31, 2010 12:25pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

indeed on both counts.

"She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake"

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Poster: William Tell Date: Mar 31, 2010 12:56pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

"...and his hair was perfect..."

I always loved that one...in context of course.

And, a few modern ones for fun:

"and the rain came in from the wide blue yonder
and through all the stages I wandered"

[again, context matters]

"I was with a girl
But it felt like I was with a boy
I can't even remember
If we were lovers
Or if I just wanted to"


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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 31, 2010 2:17pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station running scared


That's a song I always loved.

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Poster: William Tell Date: Mar 31, 2010 2:52pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

Absolutely! The two Clash/Strummer/VFemmes ones are just two that I have heard so often from the stereos of my three boys that I really came to appreciate them...not sure where others rank them among bands today, but those two songs have really stuck with me, and I enjoy the screeching/angst/high energy approach they each take, respectively, in accounting for a "girl of interest", in albeit very different ways...

And don't think I didn't notice your kind words elsewhere; as usual, I over react (initially thinking it was Chris/Smi2les I actually posted the "butt nutt" out of a sense of "returning the favor" in a place I normally would have just ignored/opted out). Regardless of who our GN is, defn got me riled, and as usual, a few too many responses on my part that will no doubt upset CLIFF and those right minded folks that hope we can just stick to the music around here...

My bad, per usual!

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Poster: robthewordsmith Date: Mar 31, 2010 4:20pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: fly away

I think Paul Simon is a truly great songwriter: Time it was and what a time it was it was... a time of innocence a time confidences long ago it must be I have a photograph preserve your memories its all that's left you. I have to admit I have no knowledge of the Violent Femmes beyond having heard the name, but Joe Strummer and the Clash are very high indeed in my musical pantheon - it would be no exaggeration to say that I'd seriously consider choosing Clash/Mescaleros over Dead/JGB to take to my desert island. Joe wasn't a great lyricist but he had an energetic way with words: So anyway, I told him I was in a band He said, "Oh yeah, oh yeah - what's your music like?" I said, "It's um, um, well, it's kinda like You know, it's got a bit of, um, you know." Ragga, Bhangra, two-step Tanga Mini-cab radio, music on the go Um, surfbeat, backbeat, frontbeat, backseat There's a bunch of players and they're really letting go We got, Brit pop, hip hop, rockabilly, Lindy hop Gaelic heavy metal fans fighting in the road Ah, Sunday boozers for chewing gum users They got a crazy D.J. and she's really letting go Works best with the music of course, but it's one of my favourite Joe songs. And I'm happy to back you up when necessary. I know you do the same for me. As I said to numbnuts, if we appear to agree it's because we actually do - and if we disagree it's done on good terms. It's not so hard to do.
This post was modified by robthewordsmith on 2010-03-31 23:20:29